OTTAWA – In its zeal to deflect attention from the Senate expenses scandal, the Harper government has managed to antagonize some of Canada’s most prominent arts and culture luminaries.

This year’s winners of the Governor General’s performing arts awards were in the gallery of the House of Commons today as Heritage Minister James Moore fended off opposition queries about Sen. Mike Duffy’s invalid expense claims.

Moore deflected most questions by raising instances of alleged ethical lapses by various NDP and Liberal parliamentarians.

Some of the artists, including actor Eric Peterson, walked out after Moore alleged that New Democrat Tyrone Benskin had introduced a private member’s bill aimed at helping him avoid paying back taxes.

Benskin, a Montreal MP and former actor, has admitted failing to pay almost $60,000 in provincial income taxes.

Benskin’s bill, which was defeated last fall, would have allowed artists to average their income over a period of years to avoid high taxation in years when they do well.

Peterson calls Moore’s allegation “an insult” to all Canadian artists.